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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 731.54% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $18,288,579,004.54 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.93% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $2,500,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $20,788,579,004.54 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.90% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.44%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1970-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $2,500,000,000 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $2,500,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $2,577,151,619.70 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $2,683,534,598.43 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $3,040,061,337.93 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $3,458,405,213.72 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $3,750,239,601.30 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $3,866,206,632.16 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $4,096,703,086.06 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $4,496,837,262.79 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $4,978,435,882.69 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $5,404,447,000.19 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $5,824,707,686.41 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $6,061,912,976.81 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $6,197,048,111.94 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $6,429,940,578.88 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $6,579,930,994.82 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $6,794,613,762.70 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $7,071,113,666.86 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $7,362,948,054.44 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $7,780,333,525.01 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $8,228,387,962.43 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $8,521,659,957.83 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $8,639,543,799.12 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $8,820,203,181.91 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $9,025,301,897.64 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $9,274,008,050.60 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $9,575,426,490.32 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $9,826,528,656.32 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $10,035,460,992.91 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $10,251,581,368.60 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $10,488,307,456.39 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $10,812,727,621.24 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $11,011,596,703.09 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $11,246,885,183.06 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $11,626,413,647.69 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $11,909,143,185.74 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $12,188,518,305.54 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $12,664,821,736.63 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $13,345,447,575.23 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $13,596,128,042.94 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $13,704,197,814.84 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $14,195,212,765.96 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $14,556,775,924.86 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $14,762,099,865.82 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $15,103,656,315.89 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $15,375,004,792.03 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $15,427,856,047.54 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $15,563,940,003.83 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $15,782,552,233.08 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $16,073,265,286.56 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $16,609,742,189.00 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $17,244,470,001.92 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $18,895,658,424.38 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $19,965,219,474.79 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $20,411,970,481.12 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $20,788,579,004.54 | 1.85%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Food and beverages:
| Year | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 34.985 | 36.254 | 38.062 | 40.131 | 41.369 | 43.077 | 48.800 | 55.515 | 60.200 | 62.062 | 65.762 | 72.185 | 79.915 | 86.754 | 93.500 | 97.308 | 99.477 | 103.215 | 105.623 | 109.069 | 113.508 | 118.192 | 124.892 | 132.085 | 136.792 | 138.685 | 141.585 | 144.877 | 148.869 | 153.708 | 157.738 | 161.092 | 164.562 | 168.362 | 173.569 | 176.762 | 180.538 | 186.631 | 191.169 | 195.654 | 203.300 | 214.225 | 218.249 | 219.984 | 227.866 | 233.670 | 236.966 | 242.449 | 246.804 | 247.653 | 249.837 | 253.346 | 258.013 | 266.625 | 276.814 | 303.319 | 320.488 | 327.659 | 333.705 |